audit

/ˈɔː.dɪt/

//ˈɔː.dɪt// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"audit" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“audit” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #6,652 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#6,652
frequency rank, English
5
letters
6
tracked misspellings
15
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A judicial examination.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

audit vs aunt
60% similar
audit vs Aust
40% similar
audit vs await
60% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for audit
PropertyValue
Headwordaudit
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɔː.dɪt/
Letters5
Frequency rank#6,652
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs15
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “audit” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). audit lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for audit is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɔː.dɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #6,652 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for audit, with forms such as "aduit", "auddit", and "auditt". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 15 confusable-pair relationships, "aunt", "Aust", "await", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin audītus, from audiō (“I hear”). Sense of “examine” was because examinations were originally presented orally, and the examiner listened. The correct English form is audit, spelled A-U-D-I-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A judicial examination.
  2. 2
    An examination in general.
  3. 3
    An independent review and examination of records and activities to assess the adequacy of system controls, to ensure compliance with established policies and operational procedures, and to recommend necessary changes in controls, policies, or procedures
  4. 4
    The result of such an examination, or an account as adjusted by auditors; final account.
  5. 5
    Spiritual counseling, which forms the core of Dianetics.
  6. 6
    A general receptacle or receiver.
  7. 7
    An audience; a hearing.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin audītus, from audiō (“I hear”). Sense of “examine” was because examinations were originally presented orally, and the examiner listened.

This word in other languages

auditoría(Español)inspection(Français)Audienz(Deutsch)auditoria(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: aduit,auddit,auditt,audti,auidt,uadit

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of audit - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

aduit2auddit1auditt1audti2auidt2uadit2
Edit distance from "audit"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "audit"?
"audit" is spelled A-U-D-I-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɔː.dɪt/.
What does "audit" mean?
As a noun, "audit" means: A judicial examination.
What words are commonly confused with "audit"?
"audit" is commonly confused with "aunt", "Aust", "await". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "audit"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "audit" is /ˈɔː.dɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "audit"?
Borrowed from Latin audītus, from audiō (“I hear”). Sense of “examine” was because examinations were originally presented orally, and the examiner listened. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “audit”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-U-D-I-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɔː.dɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “aunt” - see the side-by-side comparison. audit vs aunt
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list